Accelerated Genetics and Select Sires
Form World Wide Sires Ltd.
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VISALIA, Calif., Aug. 7, 2001 — Today Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo, Wis.,
and Select Sires, Plain City, Ohio, announced their formation of World Wide
Sires Ltd. to purchase the assets of World-Wide Sires Inc., Visalia, Calif.,
from Bill Clark and his family, Hanford, Calif. World Wide Sires Ltd. now is
operating as a stand-alone company that will continue Clark’s original
vision — to provide dairy and beef producers throughout the world with
convenient access to the highest-quality North American genetics through a
professional distribution network.
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The new officers of World Wide Sires Ltd., include (L-R); Roger Ripley, Baraboo, Wis., Dave Thorbahn, Plain City, Ohio, and John Schouten, Visalia, Calif. |
"This purchase is the best of all possible outcomes for the customers,
distributors and employees of World-Wide Sires," says Clark. "Producers in
more than 70 countries have come to trust the high-quality genetics and
expertise supplied by Select Sires and Accelerated Genetics through
World-Wide Sires since the time the company was founded in 1971. I am
confident that the new owners and management team will make sure that the
World Wide name remains synonymous with the best genetics from North
America."
World Wide Sires Ltd. is a 50-50 joint venture. It will be governed by four
officers and a six-person board of directors. The office of president will
be shared jointly by Roger Ripley, chief executive officer, Accelerated
Genetics, and Dave Thorbahn, general manager, Select Sires. Vic Williams,
controller, Select Sires, will serve as secretary and Bill Cox, vice
president of finance, Accelerated Genetics, will be the treasurer. Charles
Shackleford, acting president, Select Sires, Trenton, Ky., and Mike Hahn,
board of directors chair, Accelerated Genetics, Lancaster, Wis., have been
named directors, in addition to Cox, Ripley, Thorbahn and Williams.
John Schouten, previously the vice president of marketing for World-Wide
Sires, now is the organization’s chief executive officer.
"Much of the success of World-Wide Sires during the past 15 years has been
due to the leadership of Rich Denier as CEO and the fine team he assembled,"
says Clark. "Rich now will have more time with his family and to pursue his
many other interests. At the same time, John Schouten is well-positioned to
build on his experience with World-Wide Sires to lead the organization in
meeting customer needs."
The organization will maintain its headquarters in Visalia. Its
semen-shipping operations have been relocated to a secured facility at
Select Sires Inc. in Plain City, Ohio, to streamline the shipping process.
Virtually all of the current employees will remain in place to continue
working with suppliers and distributors to meet the diverse needs of
international customers.
"This opportunity to purchase the assets of the leading U.S.-based
international A.I. marketing organization – backed by the largest collective
sire-sampling program in North America – is a special one," says Ripley.
"Thirty years and 35 million units of semen after the formation of
World-Wide Sires, this purchase represents a reaffirmation of our two
cooperatives’ commitment to the global cattle-genetics business. Our plan is
to maintain the people, products and programs that will continue to create
value for dairy and beef herds everywhere."
"Under Bill Clark’s ownership and direction, World-Wide Sires has become the
premier global marketing organization in the A.I. industry," adds Thorbahn.
"This joint venture gives World Wide Sires ongoing access to the world’s
most extensive selection of top genetics and value-added services. It also
enables us to maintain the size and scope of our two aggressive
progeny-testing programs, which will create clear long-term benefits for
producers – both domestically and internationally."
World Wide Sires Ltd. is the leading exporter of U.S. livestock semen, and
represents Accelerated Genetics (stud code 14) and Select Sires (stud codes
7 and 9) in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania. In some
countries, World Wide Sires also represents ABS Global, DeForest, Wis.; Alta
Genetics Inc., Balzac, Alberta; Sachsischer Rinderzuchtverband e.G. (SRV),
Meissen, Germany; and Semenzoo Italy, Reggio Emila, Italy.
Based in Baraboo, Wis., and Westby, Wis., Accelerated Genetics is a
farmer-owned cooperative that provides high-quality genetics, a broad range
of solution-based farm products and leading genetic technology. Accelerated
Genetics … where innovation breeds excellence.
Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc. is a federation of 10
farmer-owned and controlled cooperatives. It provides highly fertile semen
as well as excellence in service and programs to achieve its basic objective
of supplying livestock breeders with America’s best genetics at a reasonable
price.
Copyright 1996-2001 Select Sires Inc. Last updated 21-Aug-2001.
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